This document discusses attribution theory, which examines how people explain the causes of behaviors. It introduces attribution theory and its two types: personal (internal) attribution, which looks within an individual to explain outcomes, and situational (external) attribution, which looks outside the individual. Some common attribution errors are discussed, including self-serving bias, where people attribute successes to themselves but failures to outside factors, and the fundamental attribution error, where we tend to attribute others' behaviors more to internal causes rather than external ones. The halo effect is described as making broad generalizations about a person based on a single characteristic. In conclusion, the document advocates considering both situational and personal factors rather than making quick judgments.
2. Attribution
The ways in which people come to
understand the causes of their own and
others’ behaviors.
3. Attribution Theory
Introduced by Freitz Heider in 1958.
How do we attach meaning to other's
behavior, or our own is called as
Attribution Theory.
4.
5. Types of Attribution
There are two types of Attribution Theory according to Fritz
Heider:
Personal Attribution
Situational Attribution
6. Personal or Internal Attribution:
Explain an outcome by looking within an individual.
Situational or External Attribution:
Explain an outcome by looking outside of an individual.
9. Self-Serving bias
• People do not make objective situational / personal attributions for
their own behavior, though.
• They tend to attribute their successes to dispositional factors, and
their failures to situational factors.
• For example: “I did well on the test because I am smart,” or “I did
poor on the test because I didn’t get enough sleep.
10. Fundamental attribution Error
• The tendency to attribute the behavior of other people more to
internal than to external.
• Refers to Our tendency to see the person rather than situation as the
Main cause of person’s behavior.
• Example: if a person is late for work Observers are more likely to
conclude that he is lazy than to consider the external factors.
11. Halo Effect
• To draw the general Impression of an individual on the basis of his
single characteristic.
• A big attritional Error.
• Example:-If a person having good formal dressing sense is late.
Observer make a conclusion that the external causes are responsible
then internal causes.
12. Conclusion
Keeping in mind the Attribution Theory a person should
always think before he reacts. He should not always believe
what he sees but should also focus on the both situational and
personal attributions and after that only he/she should judge
the person. A person should not blame others for any
situation or if any bad thing is taking place.